Early the next morning.
Centered around Uchiha Jin, the Hokage, the Konoha High Command, the leaders of the major Ninja Clanss, and numerous powerful Edo Tensei individuals headed directly towards Old Konoha.
Soon... everyone saw the main gate of Old Konoha!
The posts originally manned by Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane had now been converted into a ticket collection area, and everyone who saw it wore extremely complex expressions.
Because this gate carried too much of the past.
Construction began during the era of Senju Hashirama; Uchiha Madara paused here before leaving; during the First Great Ninja War, Senju Tobirama also departed from this spot for the battlefield... Almost all Ninja felt a sense of peace when they saw this gate, whether they were leaving the Village for a mission or returning from the battlefield.
Because inside the gate, was home!
"This feeling is truly wonderful!"
"Although I know this has become a scenic area, seeing this gate right in front of me still stirs a special emotion in my heart."
"So warm, so comforting."
"..."
Everyone present spoke up one after another.
Even the Senju brothers and Uzumaki Mito had incredibly complex looks in their eyes.
Following that.
Under the guidance of Uchiha Jin, the group walked directly into Old Konoha.
Training grounds, the Hokage Building, the commercial district... every place they visited subconsciously triggered memories of the past.
"This is the Akimichi family's Yakiniku Q. Every time I returned, I would come here and drink myself senseless."
"Ichiraku Ramen, it's been a long time!"
"This is Training Ground 11. I used to train here often."
"The Hokage Building—sigh!"
"..."
With every place they passed, a wave of regret rose in their hearts.
Even though they had lived in New Konoha for two years, they still held an indescribable nostalgia for Old Konoha, as this was where they had grown up, lived, and fought since childhood... Soon after.
After touring the public areas, the group split up to explore on their own.
The Senju brothers and Uzumaki Mito went to the old residence of the Senju Clan; Uzumaki Kushina took Uzumaki Naruto to their small house; Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi went to the Hatake family's courtyard; and the leaders of the major Ninja Clanss first headed toward their respective Clan Compounds.
Uchiha Jin and the many Uchiha went to the two Uchiha Clan Compounds.
Rin Nohara followed closely behind Jin, which surprised Uchiha Jin: "Aren't you going to look around your own home first?"
"I'll go later," Rin Nohara said, shrugging. "It feels too sad alone."
"Lord Jin, accompany me later!"
Uchiha Jin had no objection to this.
After thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you talk more with Kakashi or Kushina?"
"Later, I'll drop by."
Rin Nohara's smile was still gentle, carrying a hint of unspeakable loneliness: "Auntie Kushina needs to spend time with Naruto, and Kakashi is with his father. I think I should give them some private time together."
"It wouldn't be good for me to interrupt. Could Lord Jin accompany me later when I go visit Auntie Kushina and Kakashi?"
Uchiha Jin sighed internally.
He didn't know how to comfort Rin Nohara, who stood before him.
He realized now that it really wasn't a good time for Rin Nohara to go over.
After all, Kushina was returning to her small courtyard with Naruto to tell him some little secrets about his parents, and Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi were returning to their old courtyard to discuss private matters... It truly wasn't appropriate for Rin Nohara to intrude!
Moreover, the girl's parents had died early, sacrificing themselves on a mission before the Third Great Ninja War even began. So now, as a solitary person, returning home alone would indeed be a bit melancholic, and visiting Kushina or Kakashi was equally unsuitable.
After a brief contemplation, he slowly spoke.
"Alright!"
"It's fine if you browse the Uchiha scenery with me first. We'll look around my house, and then I'll accompany you to see yours."
"Let's go!"
Uchiha Jin's tone was calm.
He led Rin Nohara directly to the small courtyard he shared with his parents, the place where he had truly lived from childhood to adulthood.
Here lay the struggles and fears of his childhood, the few traces of his parents, and the evidence of how he, step by step, led the Radical Faction to gradually gain control of the Uchiha situation and begin fighting back... He held nothing back.
Looking at the familiar furniture inside, he began to narrate his story to Rin Nohara.
This included the fear he felt as a child when he realized the true nature of the Village and the Uchiha, and his years of gradual thought, planning, strategy, and change... Rin Nohara listened quietly, feeling a sense of pity for the man before her.
It was too painful!
He could sense danger from a young age, and due to the Uchiha temperament, he couldn't share his thoughts with his clansmen, not even his parents. He could only bury his fear in his heart and slowly plan and strategize alone.
At that time, Uchiha Jin was just a child!
She couldn't help but recall Uchiha Jin during his Ninja Academy days, that lone figure who was by himself every day. Who could have known that Uchiha Jin was harboring so many secrets he couldn't share with outsiders?
An hour later.
Uchiha Jin led Rin Nohara out of the Uchiha Clan Compound, but Rin Nohara couldn't help but ask, "Shouldn't we have visited the large courtyard in the Uchiha Clan Compound where you lived after you took power?"
"There's no need," Uchiha Jin slowly shook his head. "That wasn't home."
"I have no memories or struggles there. At most, it was just a temporary dwelling. I never considered it my home."
"Let's go look at your house now!"
Rin Nohara nodded, not pressing the issue further.
And so... she led Uchiha Jin back to her familiar home. Looking at the layout, which was exactly the same as before she sacrificed herself, her eyes slowly softened, even though she couldn't cry in her Edo Tensei body.
"This is a photo of me with my dad and mom. I remember taking this when I was five."
"But I never thought that would be the last time."
"Less than two months after this photo was taken, my parents died during a mission."
"This is a photo of Team Seven. Obito was very kind back then, and although Kakashi was a bit awkward, I knew he was kind at heart; he just couldn't escape the darkness that had consumed him."
"Minato sensei back then was always so confident and cheerful, as if nothing could ever stump him."
"But who would have thought that everything would start to change."
"Minato sensei became the Hokage he dreamed of, yet he also died within the Village he loved most."
"Over the years, Kakashi has matured greatly compared to before, but I can sense that his heart has become more closed off and colder."
"Especially—Obito!"
"His change is too drastic, so drastic that I can barely understand it."
"Everyone has changed!"
"They've changed so much that they feel unfamiliar, and I can hardly believe it."
"..."